New Delhi, Aug 12
In a bid to reduce dependence on Asian countries for lithium-ion batteries and other basic requirements, a total of 40 GWh Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) capacity has been awarded to four beneficiary firms, and the projects are under implementation, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
India is mostly dependent on other Asian countries for the production and promotion of Electric Vehicles (EVs), exposing the industry to supply chain risks and price fluctuations.
Most of the global battery value chain imports originate from China, as the country has significant presence across the value chain, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, told the Lok Sabha in a written reply
KABIL has signed an Exploration and Development Agreement with CAMYEN, a State-owned enterprise of Catamarca province of Argentina for Exploration and Mining of 5 Lithium Blocks in Argentina and has acquired 15,703 hectares in Catamarca Province, Argentina, for lithium exploration and mining.
KABIL is also exploring joint investments in large value projects in Australia in collaboration with other Indian PSUs. Ministry of Mines is also engaging on various multilateral and bilateral platforms such as Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) for strengthening the critical minerals value chain.